i'm standing tall i've seen a million places and i've rocked them all because i'm a cowboy on a steel horse i ride wanted dead or alive yes i'm a cowboy i've got the night on my side i'm wanted dead or alive and i ride dead or alive i still drive drive crive dead or alive -- i still drive drive drive dead or alive dead or alive dead or alive dead or alive ♪

[cheers and applause] craig: mr. sambora, everybody. we'll see you tomorrow night. good night. ♪ captioned by the national captioning instit

superstar redskins quarterback rgiii may own this town. but out of uniform on the corner, could plain old robert griffin get a cab? >> believe it or not, black people are still having trouble getting picked up by taxis here in washington. and 9news went undercover only to find the problem is a lot

more common than most of us would want to believe. one cabbie even admits on camera he didn't pick up a guy because of the color of his skin. russ ptacek joins us now with the story we thought we wouldn't to have tell any more. >> many of you tweeted me stories of taxis refusing service to blacks, stories one would hope we wouldn't be able to prove true on our hidden camera. but we did. >> what's up, man? >> out of all the cabs we tested -- >> malcolm x elementary school. >> all over d.c. >> thanks, man. >> the majority agreed to take the black passenger where he wanted to go. his destination? the malcolm x elementary and rec center where neighbors say cabs seldom come. >> when i said 1370 congress street, they say, i'm not going that way. >> i can't get a ride there. it's very hard.

>> reporter: it's at savannah and congress in southeast. we tested 40 cabs. the question is would they take a black man to the destination he requested. this taxi driver would not. watch carefully as this cab goes right past our black staffer. >> going to malcolm x rec center in southeast. >> and stops to pick up the white passenger 100 feat away. >> did you see that guy back there? >> in some cases, cabbies it not only refused our black passenger, turned down our white decoy's request, but they refused me, too. >> hi. wait, don't you have to take me anywhere that i'm going? actually, i'm with channel 9. where are you going? our black employee was stranded most often. no service from six cab base out of 40 tested while our white passenger was refused by three. only this cabbie specifically acknowledged his decision had

anything to do with race. >> going to alabama avenue. >> listen. >> not going there. >> did he just lock his doors? but just down the street he sees our white staffer asking to depo to the very same location. >> going to malcolm x elementary in southeast. >> hi, sir, i'm curious, why wouldn't you pick up the black guy? >> they didn't tell me. >> you're telling me the black gay didn't pay you? why did you pick up the wit guy? >> i didn't even know he's white. >> you didn't know this guy is white? did you know the guy you refused to take was black? >> no, i -- >> that's injustice, that's wrong. >> this woman lives in the neighborhood where that driver refused to go. >> that's what you call a good job. good job for you, man. it shouldn't happen. >> it's not a new problem in

washington. a 1995 9news investigation found even taxi commissioner karen herbert couldn't get a cab. >> he saw he me. where is your off-duty sign? >> this month, 34 of the 40 cabs tested agreed to take to us southeast. >> we've had some cabs tell us no. are you afraid to go there? >> say it again. >> are you afraid to go to that neighborhood? is it a neighborhood you're afraid to go to? >> no. >> but you're offering to do the right thing to take him. >> yes. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. >> d.c. cabs are allowed to refuse if they fear injury. >> are you scared to go to that location? >> he no, i'll go anywhere. >> why didn't you pick up that gay? you're just telling me you had a bad day? >> his boss at riteway cab said there have been murders and assaults and some cabbies do

fear for their lives and they instruct him never to discriminate. the owner says he refers complaints directly to the taxi commissioner. the other four cab companies didn't respond to us at all. now, the taxi commissioner, after those videos started circulating on the web today, contacted us saying he is determined to end this, promising fines up to $450 a pop. he says he's rely unit on passengers to complain, because they just don't have the resources to do what we did. he said that if customers complain, they will follow through. >> i'll say like the other customers, good job, russ. >> we've just learned of a disturbing crime at the maryland school for the deaf. an aid is accused of inappropriately touching and cigs them. clarence taylor was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual abuse. the alleged incidents happened between 2008 and 20 10. police are looking into the possibility that there could be

more victims. david letterman doesn't do stupid government tricks but here's one that might qualify if he did. spend $8 million to repair some county streets, then two months later, dig one of them up for utility work. residents of silver spring brisbane street are fighting to keep that from happening. tonight they've at least gotten a delay on the plan. gary niewrn berg is back from talks with some is very frustrated neighbors. >> reporter: anita, they spent years waiting to get their pothole-filled street repaired and are now incredulous at the prospect of digging it up again only two months after the project was finally completed. looks pretty good now. very nice and smooth as a baby's bottom. but before brisbane was repaved -- >> i had to have my car realigned twice over the last two years because of all the potholes. >> we had a hole down there 18 inches deep. >> reporter: so they love the improved street. happy neighbors. >> really perfect state of

pavement. >> reporter: now the freshly paved street has something fresher estimate marks from a utility company that indicate the newly repaired brisbane is going to be torn up again, this time for work by the washington suburban sanitary commission. >> it's ridiculous. >> reporter: unhappy neighbors. >> what happened was, there's been a communication breakdown between wssc and the county's department of transportation. >> reporter: the wssc thought it could make some necessary repairs to underground pipes without digging a trench in the street. but then the wssc decided -- >> we needed to dismght. >> important work. >> we literally want to keep sewage from flowing into their basement. >> new roads in montgomery county are supposed to be left alone. >> you don't cut, you don't do anything with those roads for five years. >> and the prospect of cutting brisbane -- >> caused a lot of vurn happy people to call my office. >> reporter: so the county talked to the wssc. >> we're very sympathetic to that so we are going to go back now and take another look and

see if we can change and see if there's a way we can go back to trenchless. >> reporter: now the digging is on hold. >> are you pretty confident the street won't be cut up? >> oh, no, i cannot say that because that's a decision the wssc has to make. >> reporter: the wssc is operating under an order from the federal government and believe the pipes under brisbane could be repaired without cutting the street but after the paving was completed a contractor informed the wssc that pipes were different and the cutting really was needed. now the wssc is trying to find a way to get the work done without the digging. derek and anita. >> thank you, gary. president obama says the approaching fiscal cliff is going to add some stress for a lot of american families over this holiday season. there are just 25 days to go now until the tax hikes and the budget cuts go into effect. that is unless our leaders can make a deal. the white house has made it clear, we could go over that

cliff if republicans refuse to raise tax rates on the top 2% of american earners. >> for them to be burdened unnecessarily because democrats and republicans aren't coming together to solve this problem gives awe sense of the costs involved in very personal terms. >> now, from the republican perspective they say they would like to close some loopholes and eliminate tax breaks but they insist that the bush-era tax cuts must be extended for all americans. new at 11:00, president obama on the phone with the president of egypt, pressing him about protests that have now turned deadly. here's the scene in cairo. at least six people dead, hundreds more injured. the trouble all started when morrisey granted himself broad new powers. hat grown worse after he put in place a draft constitution that has divided the nation. morrisey has agreed to open a

dialogue with the opposition leaders. police are looking for a man who sex w5e8 assaulted a motel clerk at work. it happened last night in woodbridge. police say it seems the man telephoned that clerk posing as a guest locked out of a room. the clirk goes that way to help and in the stair well the masked man pulled a knife on her, forced her into an empty room and assaulted her. this man is behind bars charged with murdering a 14- year-old in lewisdale. reyes was killed early wednesday. reyes and two others were walking along sheridan when somebody drove biand opened fire. police believe the shooting may have been gang related. at 11, paying for the post on-line. will we soon have to do that? the washington post sometime next year is likely to begin charging readers for on-line access. we reached out to the post for comment. the response from the paper's communications director, "i'm sorry, but we can't help you this time." and check out this giant

sparkler. it's in town right now. where you can see this 10k rock. also, an emotional story about a woman who died during childbirth and the best friend who is stepping up to help raise her kid. topper. hard to believe, we were 72 on tuesday, only 44 today. here's your wake-up weather. grab a coat. 30s to start, maybe some sprinkles by 7:00. a better chance of showers by 9:00, 34 to 44. we will come back, talk about why tomorrow is a 9 alert yellow and where we might see some freezing rain in the morning as well. it's going to be a big football weekend on wusa 9. watch the inarm-navy game, "game on" follows, then on sunday redskins versus ravens, the showdown at 1:00. stay tuned, we'll have

the pressure to have a proper holiday celebration is weighing on a family who by no fault of their own has been left heart broken and in need of cheer. >> the unexpected death of the mom during childbirth has left her three dindz care of her friend. that friend is scrambling to make ends meet so she can save christmas for the entire family. ken molestina joins us with an emotional story. >> angela mackly out of

hyattsville is fulfilling a promise she made to her best friend. she's raising her three children. now she's reaching out because she needs some help keeping that promise. >> when she passed away i felt it was like part of me that's gone. >> that night when she passed away, we just went to try to get the baby some stuff. >> the pain is still raw. their mother died in october soon after giving birth to her third child. >> they did an emergency c section, and after that she went into cardiac arrest. >> angela is her best friend. they called each other sisters. >> it's still a shock. >> they've been inseparable since they were little girls.

that is just one big family. >> these are my babies. i treat them like i treat mine. >> which is why she stepped up in the role of mother, but assuming that role isn't easy. she's currently unemployed and has fallen on hard times. you won't find a christmas tree in this house because they can't afford one. the idea of having gifts at this point is simply a wish. now she's scrambling to save christmas before they're all dealt another heart break. >> i was trying to get the girl, trying to keep them -- let them have a nice christmas. >> the children's uncle has stepped in to try and offer a helping hand. >> our goal is to give them the type of christmas that she would want them to have. >> but even if they do get to celebrate, it will be tough for them to be without the one gift that brings them the most comfort. a mother's love and warm embrace. >> i miss her so much. >> clearly this family could use your help this holiday season. if you would like to give them a hand please follow me on

twitter at kenwusa nine. >> kenny, thank you so much. we don't think about death after childbirth very often, but does it happen. what a loss. ken, thank you. when's the last time 17,000 people came out to admire your tree? the answer is tonight. folks came out to admire the evergreen that's yours and mine, the national christmas tree on the ellipse. the first family switched on the lights earlier this evening. the national christmas tree is a colorado blue spruce that grew up in virginia and was transplanted onto the ellipse in okay, surrounding it 56 smaller trees representing the 50 states, the district, and the u.s. territories. these trees will be lit every night through january 1st. donate food from martha's table and you get a free beer. not a bad deal. we stopped by the give a

can/get a can drive at the old town location today. if you missed it, you can still take part next thursday at the georgetown location. you can get up to three free cans of brew. >> that's right, topper, don't bring six cans of food down there. the smithsonian unveiled some serious bling today. check out this glittering aquamarine, mained in brazil, 10,000 karats. this is the largest cut piece of aquamarine in the world. it is named after brazil's first two emperors. >> even a small sliver would look good on my finger. >> did you say aquamarine? >> it's a type of gem. >> that helps.

thank you. >> rough crowd here tonight. all right, 44 today. hard to believe we were in the 70s a couple of days ago. a little unsettled for the next three days. let's start with a live look outside, our live michael & son weather cam. temperatures in the 30s. 37 downtown. dew point still in the 20s. a little troubling, he is speblly if you're up into pennsylvania. we'll tell you why in a minute. winds out of the south at 7. pressure steady, 30.29 inches of mercury. here's the radar. you can see some precipitation in the form of rain in portions of west virginia and southwestern virginia, south of i-81. everything pork off to the east and north. some of the shower activity will get into the metro area by morning. in fact, 5:15 in the morning, you see this color here, the magenta. a little bit of freezing rain possible up in bedford county, just over the border from maryland. so the rest of us will just

have rain. love a wet commute in hagerstown, leesburg. we'll put this into motion. a better chance of showers in the latter part of the rush hour. if you go late tomorrow love a better chance of seeing wet roads. prince george's county, collaterals county. nothing is heavy. it's all just green, which means light. but still, enough to wet the roads. that's why we made a yellow alert for friday. the clouds kind of hang tough in the afternoon, then showers redevelop tin mountains by evening. a little better chance of showers tomorrow night. but again, everything is light, and the good news is temperatures are going up. so you will need a coat at the bus stop. kids will need a sweat shirt or something. a little bit milder in the afternoon, but a few showers for the morning commute. and they are going to kind of linger, too. a warmer weekend but showers are still possible during the weekend. not going to be rain-free or picture perfect. but still temperature-wise pretty nice for december.

increasing clouds, a one to two- blanket night. winds out of the south at 10. by morning, mostly cloudy and chilly. some showers possible, 30s and 40s. winds increase, southerly 10 to 15. that's a warm wind. that's g. by afternoon mostly cloudy, a bit milder, a shower still possible. high temperatures in the low 50s, winds out of the south at 10 to 15. next three days, again, weather alert, make it green -- i mean, yellow on friday with morning showers, 52. warmer on saturday with showers. if you are going to philly, showers and 50 for the army- navy game. still mild but 55 on sunday for the redskins-ravens game. watch it on channel 9 at 1:00. next seven days temperatures go up. we're in the mid-60s on monday. a much better chance of showers late monday, monday night. lingering showers tuesday. colder but nothing crazy. upper 40s on wednesday. low 50s on thursday. >> pretty darn moderate. >> we'll be right back after this. >>

since john harbaugh took over in '08 the birds have won 53 games. in that same time frame washington 29. the fortunes of the franchises seem to be taking divergent paths. but not any more. now the equation includes rgiii that gay right there. burgundy and gold feels like they could compete with anybody, and the playoffs are reality. >> gyres thriving under the must-win situation. i think guys are taking it to heart, and i think if we keep flying way we're playing, we can beat anybody. >> that's the redskins' side of things. the ravens looking to get back on track. now comes a younger, faster qb in griffin of course and count

john harbaugh as among the many impressed. >> we admire him. we're right down the road. we kind of share the same fan base and the same population around here. so you kind of get to cheering for him a little bit, too. bargain compromise. cornerstone of every negotiation but is in short supply in new york where the nhl is trying to figure out a way to play. it doesn't look g. there was momentum over the weekend. now gone. players and owners worked into the wee hours. no resolution. early tonight there was a rumor that a deal might be imminent but listen to both sides. that rumor categorically false. >> the characterization that i have just heard transmitted to us that we were close, that reminds me of the last time the union said we were close, and we were a billion dollars apart. >> it looks like, this is not going to be resolved in the immediate future. i hope that turns out to be wrong.

but that's certainly what the message is that we have today. >> all right, basketball season upcoming georgetown prep hosting the high school. that's going to be our game of the week. 26,000 voters. we appreciate you. highlights at 11:00 tomorrow night. lady terps opening up acc play. brenda frese turning to the wonder twins. the two combined for 40 points, 20 boards. i love seeing her ton sideline. >> oh, brenda gets after them. doing a great job there at